The birth and life of the Pan African Thoracic Society Methods in Epidemiologic, Clinical and Operations Research (PATS MECOR) program: celebrating 15 years

ORIGINS OF PAN AFRICAN THORACIC SOCIETY (PATS)

The PATS began at the prompting of several past presidents of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) who pointed out that Africa had a huge burden of respiratory disease, mostly undescribed, with few respiratory physicians and no representation at the Forum of International Respiratory Societies (FIRS). PATS began as a virtual society at a time when that was unusual, with a website and a journal – the African Journal of Respiratory Medicine which has now been replaced by the Journal of the PATS. It was evident very early that this was not enough – the engine rooms of Africa, namely, the bright talented young physicians in each country, had to be mobilized to describe the burden of disease, find research solutions, and advocate for change and implementation. All African regions needed to come together to make a difference, by studying and working together.